The Queens University Royals overruled the UCA men’s soccer team in a 0-1 loss, with the only goal of the game scored in the first nine minutes.

The Sept. 28 game was the Bears’ second ASUN match.

“The way we started the game wasn’t good enough, it already happened this season and we are gonna work on it for sure,” junior forward Pietro Fontana said.

Graduate student midfielder Caio Brandao scored the single goal of the game nine minutes and 34 seconds into the first half, launching the ball into the top left corner of the goal.

Fontana said, “As a whole we could have pushed more from the beginning, not just attacking but also in challenges and focus, when the game started we weren’t ready to go.”

By the end of the game, the Bears took a total of 19 shots, whereas Queens University only took 11 shots. UCA took six shots on the goal and the Royals took three.

“As for me, I think I lost the ball too many times in 50/50 situations and that had a negative influence on the game for us,” Fontana said.

Fontana took one of the shots on the goal, the others taken by senior defender Josh Baros, freshman midfielder Charles-Emile Brunet, senior midfielder/forward Tajio James and senior midfielder/forward Devonte Richards.

“Putting away the chances we get plays a big role in this game, and we just weren’t good enough at it,” Fontana said. “I am the striker, so I will need to have a positive impact on the offensive side but also make sure to do my job defensively and help the team as best as I can. Even if I don’t score and things seem to go wrong, I just need to stay positive and keep going.”

The Royals had a total of six saves, triple the Bears’ two saves. Junior goalkeeper Javier Ramirez was responsible for both of the Bears’ saves.

Coach Frank Kohlenstein said, “We started slowly, but you have to credit the Queens’ defenders for how hard they played. The team amped it up in the second half to try to pull something out of the match but did not find the back of the net.”

In the second period, the Bears took nine of their 16 shots, garnered both of Ramirez’s saves and took two corner kicks.

“I was pleased that we kept going and actually played harder as the match went longer,” Kohlenstein said.

Despite the loss, Fontana felt much happier with his performance in the second period.

“[The] second half I tried to play quicker and to win duels and I think it was much better for me,” he said.

The Bears’ next game will be an ASUN match 7 p.m. Oct. 5 against Lipscomb University at the Bill Stephens Track and Soccer Complex.

“We will need to have a great week of training to be ready for Lipscomb but are excited to play them at home and hope our UCA fans will turn out for this very big ASUN match-up,” Kohlenstein said.